Trulli fit to race in Australia, despite concerns

[davewilson]

Toyota have insisted that Jarno Trulli will compete in this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, despite the driver missing a public appearance for health reasons.

The 32-year-old Italian did not make a scheduled public appearance in Tokyo on Monday after coming down with a cold.

But the Japanese team have denied that the illness could prevent the one-time Grand Prix-winner from racing.

"Jarno just has a cold," said team manager Richard Cregan. "We allowed him to not participate in the event in Japan but he will be in Australia."

If Trulli had been unable to race in Australia, his place would have been taken by the team's French test driver Franck Montagny, who started seven races for Super Aguri last season.

The stig